Court slams Maharashtra's 'superficial' action on child safety after Badlapur case

Mumbai,UPDATED: Sep 19, 2025 18:36 IST

The Bombay High Court on Friday came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for failing to properly implement its own safety guidelines meant to protect children in schools. These guidelines, issued in May this year, were meant to make schools “safe zones”. The safety measures were required after two minor girls were sexually assaulted in a Badlapur school last year.

A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh B Patil said it was dissatisfied with the state’s progress. “You are waiting for some other incident to happen and then you will wake up? In your own government schools you have not taken steps,” the court remarked.

The court had itself taken up the issue in May 2025. This was after last year’s Badlapur assault case raised serious concerns about safety in schools. Following this, the state’s Department of School Education and Sports issued a Government Resolution (GR) — an official order with binding instructions — directing all schools to adopt strict safety measures.

GAPS IN COMPLIANCE

Despite official claims of progress, the court noted that many critical safeguards were missing. Amicus curiae Rebecca Gonsalves submitted a report showing that while most schools had installed complaint boxes and set up safety committees, other important measures were ignored.

According to official data till August 29:

• Nearly 45,315 government schools and 11,139 private schools still don’t have CCTV cameras
• Staff background checks were skipped in over 25,000 government schools and 15,000 private schools
• Transport safety measures like GPS in buses, driver verification, and female attendants were missing in almost 68,000 schools
• Key areas such as counselling support, cyber safety awareness, disaster management, and residential school safety were not reviewed at all

The bench observed, “Compliance was completely superficial,” and asked the state’s lawyer, “Who should be called now? Orders are passed not to remain in paper but to be taken to logical conclusion.”

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS

The court also questioned how parents were being informed. While the state claimed that the new rules were shared through WhatsApp and email, Gonsalves pointed out that not all parents have access to these platforms.

Justice Dere added sharply, “My brother is a parent and he has not received the GR. Don’t make blatant incorrect statements. Don’t paint a picture and make false statement that a notice of perjury can be issued.”

DIRECTIONS ISSUED

The bench directed the school education department to publish school-wise compliance details on its official website, so parents can see exactly what safety measures their children’s schools have put in place.

The court also pulled up the government for failing to spell out steps taken in residential schools, anganwadis and ashramshalas, which cater to children in remote and rural areas. “We are not concerned with your internal politics and departments,” the judges said.

The matter will now be heard again on September 30.

- Ends

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